Si Fengchi struggled harder, his crimson eyes fixed on Empress Lan.
He couldn't accept it. He could have been Crown Prince, the new Emperor. Why did his mother insist he be a mere vassal king?
Unfortunately, after that first glance, Empress Lan never looked at him again. She focused solely on negotiating with Feng Xiwu.
Feng Xiwu didn't mind a King of Jizhou. However, he scoffed contemptuously and gestured towards Si Fengchi, "Jizhou is currently without a ruler. Making him King of Jizhou is not impossible.
But look at his demeanor. Does he look like someone who wouldn't plot rebellion or treason?"
Empress Lan's expression stiffened. "As long as you agree, I have my ways to keep him in line."
Feng Xiwu still shook his head. "I have everything you mentioned.
Instead of using those to bargain with me, Empress, why not give the Feng Guards in your hand to my consort? Given that you're being sensible, I can let you go to Jizhou with him and be the Empress Dowager of Jizhou.
And, incidentally, I will help you keep that secret you'd rather kill Lan An for than reveal."
With a single sentence, Empress Lan, who had maintained a calm demeanor even when the maid beside her became an assassin, her face drastically changed, mirroring Lan An's expression just before he was about to speak.
At this moment, Feng Xiwu and Lu Qingwan realized that this mentally strong woman, Empress Lan, cared about nothing except Si Fengchi, her own son.
But unfortunately, since Lan An's rebellion, Si Fengchi had been a hostage in their hands.
Therefore, Empress Lan could only negotiate with them.
Hearing Feng Xiwu's words, Empress Lan hesitated for a long time before gritting her teeth. "I can give the Feng Guards to your consort, but how can you guarantee that Prince Rui will not be harmed?"
"I can't guarantee it."
Feng Xiwu's tone was calm, but his words sounded like a rogue.
"The only ones who can guarantee he won't have a short life are you and himself. As long as he doesn't court death, I won't have the leisure to bother him."
Feng Xiwu's words were quite blunt, but Empress Lan appreciated his genuine and unpretentious demeanor.
She immediately removed the phoenix hairpin from her head and handed it to Feng Xiwu. "I personally established the Feng Guards. I hand them over to you today. Whether your consort can command them will depend on her ability."
Feng Xiwu tilted his chin slightly. Li Jin immediately presented the phoenix hairpin to Lu Qingwan.
Upon receiving it, Lu Qingwan showed it off to Yan Ruozhao without hesitation. "Sister-in-law, does it look good?"
Yan Ruozhao genuinely admired it. "Of course, it's beautiful. The Nine-Tailed Phoenix Hairpin is the most exquisite and suits you very well."
Lu Qingwan raised her hand and placed the Nine-Tailed Phoenix Hairpin in Yan Ruozhao's hair. "You're right, the Nine-Tailed Phoenix Hairpin is the most exquisite. If I wear it, I fear someone might accuse me of disrespecting the Empress. So, you should wear it."
She turned around and, in front of everyone, called out, "Ru Yue."
A graceful figure descended from the sky. "Please instruct me, mistress."
Lu Qingwan's slender finger pointed at her, and she faced Empress Lan. "From yesterday until now, three thousand inner guards have died by her hand. Does Your Highness Empress think she is qualified to be the commander of the Feng Guards?"
Empress Lan's pupils tightened. Thinking of the inner guards who had been out of contact for the past few days, and realizing that her biggest secret was now in the hands of these two, she was no longer surprised.
"Prince Qin's consort has hidden talents. It seems the Feng Guards will sooner or later become your weapon."
"Your Highness Empress, your words are mistaken."
Lu Qingwan smiled and shook her head. "Feng Wei, Feng Wei. They are meant to protect the Empress."
As she spoke, she held Yan Ruozhao's hand. "My sister-in-law comes from a scholarly family. Sister-in-law, you won't dislike this gift, will you?"
Yan Ruozhao had no prior knowledge of the Feng Guards' existence, but she knew that anything that could become a bargaining chip between Empress Lan and Feng Xiwu was no ordinary item.
Under the public gaze, she dared not refuse outright and offend Lu Qingwan. She could only cautiously seek guidance from Si Fengming.
The latter nodded calmly. "Since it is my sister-in-law's kind intention, you should accept it.
If I become busy in the future, you will have someone to protect you, and I will have no worries."
As he spoke, his gaze calmly swept over everyone present.
The ministers belatedly realized that both Lu Qingwan's blatant gifting of the Feng Guards to Yan Ruozhao and Feng Xiwu's public negotiation with Empress Lan were a show of force directed at them.
When the display of force concluded, Censor Yan stepped forward. "May I ask Your Highness the Crown Prince, Empress, Your Highness, just said that His Majesty harmed the former Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and murdered the former Emperor and Imperial Noble Consort Jing Hui back then. What exactly happened? Can you give us a reasonable explanation?"
At first glance, this question seemed to be questioning Si Fengming, but anyone with eyes could see that Censor Yan was merely paving the way for Si Fengming to legitimately bring up the past events.
However, as soon as Censor Yan spoke, the ministers panicked.
After Emperor Gengshi ascended the throne, a large portion of them had benefited. If Emperor Gengshi's actions were exposed, what good would come to them?
A group of people babbled, trying to prevent Si Fengming from rehashing the past. But Si Fengming and his brother had worked hard for so many years and finally had this opportunity. How could they let it slip away easily?
Therefore, regardless of the ministers' objections, Si Fengming only said one sentence, "Since these were the Emperor's actions, then let the Emperor come and give everyone an explanation."
After speaking, he returned to his seat and insincerely soothed everyone. "Please all be seated. His Majesty's play might take quite a while to finish!"
Those officials still wanted to find a way to prevent Emperor Gengshi from appearing, as they had witnessed the swift confessions of Fan Jiang, Lan An, and Lan Huaxiao and knew the potency of the truth serum.
They knew that once Lu Qingwan administered the truth serum to Emperor Gengshi, all their crimes would be exposed.
Unfortunately, before they could devise a plan to stop it, the blades of the Xuanjia Army were already drawn a bit further.
Cutting flesh with a dull knife also hurts, but a swift knife cutting through tangled hemp is lethal.
These pampered nobles would rather be completely betrayed by Emperor Gengshi and struggle for survival than have their heads cut off by the Xuanjia Army now. Thus, they could only obediently take their seats.
It was at this moment that Li Yang pushed Emperor Gengshi into the main hall.
Because he was still the Emperor, Si Fengming still had him placed on the throne. However, Emperor Gengshi remained unconscious.
The ministers, who were filled with apprehension, felt a slight easing of their worries when they saw Emperor Gengshi unconscious. Then, they heard Si Fengming politely say, "May I trouble sister-in-law to make our Emperor speak?"
Lu Qingwan readily replied, "Happy to serve Your Highness!" and then walked onto the high platform.
With a single injection, Emperor Gengshi slowly opened his eyes. Soon, in front of everyone, Lu Qingwan administered the truth serum to Emperor Gengshi.
Watching the officials who wished they could fly up and snatch the truth serum from her hand, restless as if nails were growing under their buttocks, Lu Qingwan flashed a malicious smile and returned to her seat.